The Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) has said that over 3,200 Nigerian men have been trained and certified as feminist allies under the Male Feminists Network (MFN) project, as part of efforts to curb gender-based violence (GBV) and promote gender equality across the country.

The Project Director of MFN and the founding Executive Director of the Centre, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference held during a capacity-building programme for women’s rights organisations on engaging male allies.

According to Igbuzor, the MFN initiative was created to address a long-standing gap in gender justice advocacy—mobilising men to take responsibility for dismantling patriarchy rather than remaining silent beneficiaries of unequal systems.

The development expert added that MFN do not exist to replace women’s movements but it “exists to support them, by mobilising men to confront other men, challenge harmful masculinities, and use their privilege to advance—rather than undermine—gender justice.”

“Patriarchy is produced, enforced, and defended within male-dominated systems. It cannot be dismantled without men changing their beliefs, behaviours, and use of power,” he added.

The Male Feminists Network is a two-year national project (2025–2027) implemented by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD) with funding support from the Ford Foundation, and executed through six zonal partners covering Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Igbuzor revealed that 52 Master Trainers have been trained nationwide, who have since conducted step-down trainings reaching over 500 additional participants in communities, schools, faith institutions, and civil society spaces.

He added that the project has also recorded a major global milestone with the launch of the world’s first online course dedicated exclusively to Male Feminism and GBV prevention.

Since its introduction, the platform has attracted 8,552 participants, with 3,150 Nigerians successfully completing the course and earning certification.

“These men are not just learning; they are taking action—leading conversations in their communities, challenging harmful gender norms, and supporting women’s rights initiatives,” Igbuzor noted.

Beyond the numbers, he said the MFN project was contributing to a visible shift in attitudes toward feminism, particularly among men who previously viewed it as anti-male. Reports from the six zones indicated growing openness to feminist language, public acknowledgement of male privilege, and stronger collaboration between male allies and women-led organisations.

Speaking on the ongoing capacity-building programme for women’s rights organisations, Dr. Igbuzor explained that the training was designed to help feminist groups define safeguards and accountability mechanisms when engaging male allies.

“Male allyship is necessary, but it is also risky. It must be governed by feminist leadership to ensure it strengthens—not weakens—women’s movements,” he said.

Looking ahead, he said the MFN project will expand digital learning, deepen engagement with traditional and religious leaders, and intensify policy advocacy on GBV prevention and gender equality.

He stressed that achieving gender justice requires men to listen more than they speak, challenge other men, and submit to feminist accountability.

“The Male Feminists Network is not about creating heroes. It is about producing responsible partners committed to ending violence and inequality,” Igbuzor added.

On the achievements recorded since the initiative began, Dr. Igbuzor said: “We developed and validated a national training manual on Male Feminism in Support of Gender-Based Violence Prevention in Nigeria. This manual is practical, feminist-informed, and designed as a working tool for trainers, community leaders, faith leaders, and male allies across the country.

“One of our most groundbreaking achievements under the Male Feminist Network project is the launch of the world’s first online course dedicated exclusively to Male Feminism and Gender-Based Violence prevention.” (LEADERSHIP)

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